'Lovers' exceeds expectations

Thursday

Feb 14, 2013 at 11:08 AM

By CINDY DOW

By CINDY DOW

Associate Editor

MIDDLEBORO — If you take a look at five different couples on any particular night, you'll get five different ideas of what a relationship is. This is the premise behind Theatre One Productions' performance of Lovers and Other Strangers, a lighthearted peek at five couples in the middle of not-so-typical circumstances during the late 1960's. This amusing comedy shines a spotlight on the hits and misses of intimacy and romance, allowing audience members to chuckle at the foibles while still holding out hope for the couples involved. The talented cast members are pros at mining a script for laughs, and this script doesn't disappoint.

First up are Hal and Cathy, played by Omer Courcy and Patty Minkle. Cathy is distraught, sure she cannot stand another anniversary party for her sister Bernice and Bernice's husband Hal — whom Cathy has been having an affair with for years. Hal's biggest problem isn't that he's a cad, trying to woo Cathy back while sitting on the toilet in the bathroom while the anniversary party continues in the room outside the door. No, he convinces Cathy, his biggest problem is that he's such a giver — he doesn't want to hurt anyone.

Jerry and Brenda, played by Robert Duquette and Linda Monchik, are on their first almost date. Brenda isn't sure it qualifies as a date, since they just met at the coffee shop, but she has agreed to walk with Jerry to his apartment because he wants to make sure he didn't leave the gas on in the kitchen, wink, wink. While there, she pesters him with chatter — has he read "Sex and the Single Girl" and other similar directives? Doesn't he think that women should be as satisfied as men in the relationship? Jerry, confused and just hoping for an easy seduction, is alternately thrilled and confused by Brenda's coy withdrawals and assertive advances. The pair ultimately tosses restraint to the winds, although their physical exuberance looks more like a wrestling match than a first date. leaving a broken couch in their wake.

Susan and Mike, on the other hand, are getting married in four days. Or they were, before Mike, played by Dan Kirichok, burst like a madman into Susan's room at 4 a.m. Susan, played by Lisa Caron Driscoll, is confused at first, but as Dan's monologue turns increasingly frantic and absurd while he insists that he is calling the wedding off, Susan handles him perfectly. She calmly sits back down in bed and gazes at him, allowing him to vent his anxieties without a word of dissent. As he reaches the door to leave, she asks if the tuxedos are ready, and serenely reels him back in with comments about her wedding dress.

Johnny and Wilma have been married for years, and seem more like roommates than lovers. Johnny, who was played opening night by Omer Courcy on script due to Tom White being ill, is reading in bed when Wilma, played by Linda Merritt, waltzes in. Johnny shuts the lights off, but Wilma is hoping for a little more than a peaceful night's sleep. She tells Johnny it's his turn to make love to her, but Johnny tells her he will give her a rain check. The conversation turns a bit nasty, with Johnny suggesting that Wilma wants to be the man in the relationship, and Wilma suggesting that Johnny isn't. A tender moment breaks when Johnny admits to some trouble at work, but ends with Johnny's back to Wilma as -he turns the lights out and Wilma's astounded question, "Aren't you going to let me surrender to you?"

The final scene starts around the table in the Italian kitchen of Bea and Frank, with their adult son, Richie. Trudi Miller shines as Bea, with all the anxious mutterings and side comments of the stereotypical Italian mother who finds out her son is getting a divorce. Robert Duquette is Frank, hen-pecked into intervening and revealing something Richie, played by Daniel Kirichok, wishes he hadn't heard. Bea has invited Richie's wife, Joan, played by Lisa Caron Driscoll, to come over so the older couple can convince the younger couple not to divorce — but the ensuing conversations would make anyone think twice about staying married if Bea and Frank's examples were the highlights to look forward to. Bea urges Joan to "make your bed and suffer in it," while Richie can't convince Frank that he hasn't had an affair. Richie and Joan join forces to get out of the house, returning Bea and Frank to their focus on comfort food.

"Lovers and Other Strangers" offers an evening of laughter and a gentle poke at romance. It's not the sappy sweetness of a Lifetime movie, but offers instead an entertaining glimpse of some of the other sides of love.

Directed by Peg Holzemer, "Lovers and Other Strangers" is offered by Theatre One Productions this weekend at the Alley Theatre, 133 Center St. Friday and Saturday the show starts at 7:30 p.m., with tickets at $18, $15 for seniors, cash only. A matinee showing is offered on Sunday at 2 p.m., with tickets at $15 for all. Doors open half an hour before show time. Donations for the COA Senior Food Pantry will be accepted at all performances. For more information, call 508-947-7716.

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